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Language Families of the World

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Course Overview

Language, in its seemingly infinite variety, tells us who we are and where we come from. Many linguists believe that all of the world’s languages—over 7,000 currently—emerged from a single, prehistoric source. While experts have not yet been able to reproduce this proto-language, most of the world’s current languages can be traced to various language families that have branched and divided, spreading across the globe with migrating humans and evolving over time.

In Language Families of the World, Professor John McWhorter of Columbia University takes you back through time and around the world, following the linguistic trails left by generations of humans that lead back to the beginnings of language. Utilizing historical theories and cutting-edge research, these 34 astonishing lectures will introduce you to the major language families of the world and their many offspring, including a variety of languages that are no longer spoken but provide vital links between past and present.

An Incomplete Family Tree

The English language comes from the immense family known as Indo-European, a group that has been traced and reconstructed perhaps most thoroughly of all the language families. In fact, it is the extensive study of this family that essentially built the foundations of formal linguistic science. Other language families, like the Niger-Congo, the Afro-Asiatic, and Austronesian families, are becoming more and more known through study, but there is still a long way to go to uncover the earliest foundations of the families that comprise the thousands of languages spoken around the world today.

Professor McWhorter demonstrates how, through a combination of the known and the unknown, of tangible evidence and shifting hypotheses, linguists trace and reconstruct languages. It’s often a tangled and complex undertaking, with many theories taking root before being reevaluated—or disproven altogether. As you better understand the methods linguists use and the ideas they have developed, you will explore a host of fascinating questions, including:

How are similarities in languages determined?

Why do some languages seem related but are not, while others that appear fundamentally different are actually part of the same family?

What is the effect of geography—and even topography—on language?

Who determines the difference between a language and a dialect?

When does a language “officially” split into separate ones?

Filling in the Blanks of Language

As in life, the one constant in language is change. Even looking back just some hundreds of years, what we know as Middle English is barely intelligible to contemporary English speakers. Thanks to many similarities and the volume of writing that exists between the days of Chaucer’s English and now, the transition can be fairly easy to trace. However, since not every language has a clear, uninterrupted line of progression or a written record to follow through the ages, how do linguists reconstruct older languages? How do they identify a language family?

As Professor McWhorter explains: “The fundamental trait of a language family is that linguists can posit a proto-language from which the modern languages developed via regular sound changes.” This is easiest to do with groups of languages that are relatively new and thus still share a lot of features. Professor McWhorter uses the languages of Polynesia to illustrate this kind of reconstruction in its simplest form before turning to the more complicated ways linguists fill in the blanks with languages that have changed over longer periods and spread over vast distances.

Sometimes, as with the Indo-European family, there are copious written records to help cover the gaps, but often it is a matter of using core words and cognates to make the necessary connections. Like detectives, linguists must follow the clues they are given and throughout these lectures you will be able to follow the process like Watson to Professor McWhorter’s Sherlock Holmes. Along the way, you will look at language through many linguistic lenses, such as:

Structure and parts of words, like roots, stems, prefixes, and suffixes (morphology);

How sounds are organized in language (phonology);

The history and origin of particular words (etymology);

Word order and arrangement (syntax);

The meaning and implications of words (semantics), and many more.

If language change makes it so difficult for linguists to make clear connections between past and present, it is important to understand the nature of those changes, as well as how those changes both help and hinder investigation. Languages experience change for many reasons, including:

Time. Every generation alters the language(s) they inherit, through both the addition of new words and structures and the gradual erosion and extinction of others as cultures and societies change.

Distance. The farther away groups of speakers become, the more linguistic changes crop up between their “versions” of the language. Sometimes this results in dialects, other times in completely new languages.

Contact. Two unrelated languages thrown into proximity will sometimes create a mix of the two and can evolve into a new language altogether, or the influence of a dominant language can create a linguistic area with many shared characteristics among several languages.

Force. Sometimes—often as the result of war, colonialism, or invasion—languages can be forced to change to fit a new reality or go extinct altogether.

Languages Past, Present, and Future

Languages like Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, Hindi, and Russian are some of the most widely spoken in the world and have been extensively studied. They can all provide deep insight into the nature of language and how it can change over time. Yet they are only a very small fraction of the immense number of languages and dialects you will encounter as you tour the world via linguistics. Following the trails of language across land and sea with Professor McWhorter will allow you to trace migration patterns and social contact between different peoples, as well as better understand important aspects of history and geography that continue to evolve and influence the world we live in today.

Utilizing maps, graphics, photographs, and a plethora of written examples and illustrations, Language Families of the World makes the complex and ever-changing world of language an engaging journey. From the “click” languages of sub-Saharan Africa and the little-known languages of New Guinea to the shrinking varieties of Native American grammar and the isolated Basque tongue in the heart of Europe, you will encounter an astonishing range of languages. Through them, you will reveal amazing facets of speech that defy conventional wisdom and demonstrate the immense range of human linguistic ingenuity.

While most animals communicate in some form, language—complete with grammar, syntax, dialects, vocabulary, and so much more—appears to be a uniquely human trait. When we understand not just the nuts and bolts but the extensive history and cultural power of language, we better understand ourselves, as well as the world and the people we share it with.

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34 lectures

| Average 28 minutes each

1

Why Are There So Many Languages?

There are over 7,000 languages in the world and many linguists believe they likely all developed from a single source language in the distant past. Get an introduction to the concept of language families, understand how languages change over time, and discover what linguistics can teach us about our own history. x

2

The First Family Discovered: Indo-European

While the Indo-European family of languages was not the first group to be identified as related, it is the family that has received much of the research and classification that became the basis of modern linguistics. Uncover what defines Indo-European languages, which include Latin, English, French, Armenian, Latvian, Sanskrit, and many more. x

3

Indo-European Languages in Europe

Begin a deep dive into the earliest roots of Indo-European languages with a look at Germanic, Romance, Balto-Slavic, Greek, Albanian, and Celtic languages. See how Indo-European languages contradict common notions about how language works and uncover some of the mysteries that are yet to be solved. x

4

Indo-European Languages in Asia

One-fifth to one-sixth of the world speaks one of the Indo-European languages of India. Trace back to the branching of the Indo-European tree, when the European languages split from the Indo-Aryan varieties like Sanskrit that would become Hindi and others. Explore many variations that evolved and see why it can be so difficult to differentiate between a language and a dialect. x

5

The Click Languages

Shift from Indo-European to some of the most endangered languages in the world: the “click” languages, formally known as Khoisan. Spoken in southern Africa, these endangered languages share a distinctive profile, and yet likely did not all come from a single family. Explore where they may have begun and how they work. x

6

Niger-Congo: Largest Family in Africa I

The Niger-Congo family consists of anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 different languages. While they are part of the same family, they do not adhere to an identified pattern like Indo-European. What links this immense family together? What is the essence of the Niger-Congo? What can these languages tell us about migration patterns? Explore these questions and more. x

7

Niger-Congo: Largest Family in Africa II

Look closer at some of the unique aspects of the Niger-Congo family, including the use of tone, and see how different languages can spring from the same original materials. Since the work of classifying languages is on-going, you may be surprised to see how many can develop in proximity and share words but be part of different groups altogether. x

8

Languages of the Fertile Crescent and Beyond I

Follow the migration of peoples from Africa to the Middle East by looking at the language family that developed in the Fertile Crescent: Afro-Asiatic. This first look at this family focuses on the widely known Semitic branch, which includes Arabic and Hebrew. Examine what defines this group of languages and uncover the roots of the first alphabets. x

9

Languages of the Fertile Crescent and Beyond II

Move beyond the Semitic languages to look at other subfamilies of Afro-Asiatic, including what some call the “Berber” subfamily and several other subfamilies spoken south of the Sahara, and see what they can teach us about the nature of language. Close with a look at Somali oral poetry and its complex use of alliteration. x

10

Nilo-Saharan: Africa's Hardest Languages?

Afro-Asiatic languages are prevalent in the north of the African continent, and Niger-Congo in the south, with a narrow band of a third family running between: Nilo-Saharan. The Nilo-Saharan languages are immensely different from each other, so how do linguists know they are related? Examine the unique features of this family. x

11

Is the Indo-European Family Alone in Europe?

Meet the other family of languages in Europe: Uralic, which includes Estonian, Finnish, and Hungarian. Eccentric and tidy at the same time, this family stretches across the north of Europe and into Russia and parts of Asia. See why Turkish was once thought to be part of this family and how Uralic languages differ from Indo-European and others. x

12

How to Identify a Language Family

How do linguists establish connections between languages and determine their common roots when it is nearly impossible to see a language change in real time? Take a look at the languages of Polynesia to see how changes can be followed backwards to reveal connections between different languages, then turn to the Indo-European and Uralic families. x

13

What Is a Caucasian Language?

Named for the Caucasus mountains where they originate, the Caucasian languages are actually three different families: Northwestern, Northeastern, and a Southern one that includes Georgian. Explore these grammatically complex languages to better understand how they work and how so many different varieties can spring from a relatively small area. x

14

Indian Languages That Aren't Indo-European

The “Big Four” languages (and many others) of southern India are not part of the Indo-European family but rather the Dravidian. Look at what the distribution of Dravidian languages says about where they come from and how they got where they are now—including some languages on the brink of extinction—and explore some of their unique features. x

15

Languages of the Silk Road and Beyond

The languages called Altaic are spoken across Asia, from Turkey through Mongolia and to northeastern regions of Asia. Understand why there is some debate among linguists as to whether they comprise one family or are made of three separate ones as you look at how these languages function, including nuances like a mood known as “evidentiality.” x

16

Japanese and Korean: Alike yet Unrelated

Are Japanese and Korean part of the Altaic family? They share some features of the other Altaic languages, yet some linguists believe they are separate. Take a brief foray through the fascinating Japanese writing system as you look deeper into the language. Then, turn to Korean, comparing and contrasting it with Japanese and other Asian languages. x

17

The Languages We Call Chinese

Explore the Asian languages beyond Japanese and Korean, looking into several families along the way. See why Mandarin and Cantonese, though both considered Chinese, are a classic example of two different languages being mistaken for dialects—thanks in part to a shared writing system and cultural proximity. x

18

Chinese's Family Circle: Sino-Tibetan

Chinese is one branch of the Sino-Tibetan family and the other branch, Tibeto-Burman, consists of around 400 languages spoken in southern China, northeastern India, and Burma. Look at features of languages from both branches and see what linguists can assume about the proto-language from which they may have sprung. x

19

Southeast Asian Languages: The Sinosphere

How can languages that have very different origins still seem to be structurally related? To find out, look at the concept of a Sprachbrund and understand why contact is just as influential as origin when it comes to resemblances between otherwise unrelated languages—in this case, the influence of Chinese on other Asian languages. x

20

Languages of the South Seas I

Journey to the South Seas to begin an investigation into Austronesian, one of the world's largest and most widespread language families. See what connects Austronesian languages to other families, as well as how they differ from European languages, and trace the way Austronesian languages have spread across far-flung locations. x

21

Languages of the South Seas II

The languages of Polynesia are estimated to be some of the newest languages in the world, emerging only in the last millenium. Look back to the earliest cultures of the Polynesian islands to see how the languages likely originated and were disseminated, branching into separate sub-groups like Oceanic and the three that are all spoken on the small island of Formosa. x

22

Siberia and Beyond: Language Isolates

How do some languages end up isolated amidst other, unrelated families? Look at pockets of language in Siberia, Spain, and Japan that are not related to those that surround them and better understand what the nature of language—and human migration and settlement patterns—can tell us about these unique places. x

23

Creole Languages

Since all languages come from one original language, technically no one language is older than another. However, when two languages are forced into proximity, often a makeshift fusion of the two can emerge as a new language, known as a creole. Learn how a hierarchical, stopgap form of communication can become a true language. x

24

Why Are There So Many Languages in New Guinea?

Turn your attention to one of the most linguistically rich places on Earth: the island of New Guinea, and discover why, thanks to its history and isolating terrain, it is home to hundreds of languages in a relatively small area. See how pronouns allow linguists to find connections between these languages, and explore some of their unusual traits. x

25

The Languages of Australia I

Once the home of over 250 languages, Australia now only has about a dozen languages that will be passed to sizable generations of children. Take a look at some of the over two dozen language families in Australia and better understand how both separation from a common ancestor and proximity to a different language will cause a language to change in different ways. x

26

The Languages of Australia II

Continue your examination of the languages of Australia, including the first Australian language to be documented by Europeans. Many of these languages present a case study in language obsolescence (as English dominates the continent) and language mixture (the emergence of creole languages due to European contact). x

27

The Original American Languages I

Like Australia, North America was home to at least 300 distinct languages before English became dominant. Professor McWhorter takes you through some of the theories linguists have regarding the relationship of various Native American languages and the origins of humans and their varieties of speech on the North American continent. x

28

The Original American Languages II

Zoom in on some of the larger families of North America and gain valuable insight into what they can tell us about language in general. You will get the chance to examine languages that are on the brink of extinction today, see which languages have contributed words currently used in American English, and more. x

29

The Original American Languages III

Continue your journey through the languages of North America, including a language that uses no sounds that require the lips to touch. As you look at the unique grammatical features of languages across the continent, you will also consider what happens when languages die out and their complexities are lost to future generations. x

30

The Original American Languages IV

Follow Native American migrations to encounter the language families that moved south to take root in Central and South America. From a language variety that incorporates whistling to some with object-subject-verb word order—and even one that resulted from a mass kidnapping—you will experience a range of fascinating linguistic developments. x

31

Languages Caught between Families

The line between different language families is often blurred. Languages from different families that have been brought together can create a hybrid that belongs to both, and every combination happens in different ways and to varying degrees. Look at several examples of this phenomenon (which even includes English). x

32

How Far Back Can We Trace Languages?

Embark on a quest that some believe may be impossible: tracing the relationships between the macro language families. See how the pursuit of evidence connecting the language families is complicated by time, accidental similarities, lost languages, and more, as you also look at several plausible theories that could offer solutions. x

33

What Do Genes Say about Language Families?

The idiosyncrasies that show up in DNA allow us to trace back to common ancestors, much like language traits allow us to chart language-family relationships. Take a look at the concept of glottochronology and see what linguistic theories have been confirmed by genetics in places like Europe, India, and Polynesia—as well as some surprises. x

34

Language Families and Writing Systems

What do writing systems tell us about language? Better understand why writing actually tells us more about human ingenuity in communication than it tells us about spoken language. Close with a consideration of the cultural importance of language, its preservation and loss, and the realities of a more linguistically homogeneous future. x

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Your professor

About Your Professor

John McWhorter, Ph.D.

Columbia University

Dr. John McWhorter is Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. He previously was Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his B.A. from Rutgers University, his M.A. from New York University, and his Ph.D. in Linguistics from Stanford University. Professor McWhorter specializes in language change and language contact. He is the author of...

Reviews

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Stef2 from
Language Families of the worldMcWhorter is the best. All his coursed and podcast are excellent.

Date published: 2019-09-09

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Canadian from
Absolutely Fascinating!I greatly enjoyed this course for several reasons: 1) Dr. John McWhorter’s presentation of linguistic information was more lively and interesting than what I had encountered years ago in university classes. 2) The diversity, inferred history, and beauty of human languages and language families were clearly communicated. 3) The professor was erudite and well-organized. 4) His quick wit kept me especially alert. 5) Dr. McWhorter was able to demonstrate vocalizations from many languages he discussed; and when he felt he could not do so adequately, audio recordings by native speakers were supplied. 6) Insights about how linguistic research is like detective work enlivened the lectures. 7) The course guidebook was excellent, even to the point of providing beneficial quizzes at the end of each of the six DVDs in the set. 8) On-screen maps, charts, and lists were also extremely helpful.
I am aware that some reviewers consider Dr. McWhorter’s style too brash or humorous. Certain prospective purchasers may wish to be cautious for that reason. I am a devoted fan of Dr. McWhorter’s, though, and the very satisfied owner of three of his Great Courses. His conversational manner, plus the way he can tag or highlight serious ideas with witty asides, quirky but apt analogies, and even put-on theatrical voices actually helps me to recall more at the end of each lecture than I likely would have otherwise. As my wife summed things up after we had finished the course, “He makes complex information very accessible.”

Date published: 2019-08-22

Rated 5 out of
5 by
lisa915 from
Expanded my understanding of all languages!I am enjoying this course immensely. It has expanded my view of the origins of language. Including English. The complexity of languages in Africa and the middle East etc is fascinating. It pulls you out of the idea of well those are simple language, "Oh, no they aren't" I spoke to a cab driver from Nigeria the other day and after asking what country he was from- I explained that I was studying a course that included African Languages and asked him which language he spoke-and he demonstrated a couple of words. Great way to talk to others about their culture and better understand our diverse world. It was also fun since this guy has likely never had anyone ask about his language before. ( there are over 500 languages in Nigeria).
The Professor is also precise and entertaining. He seems to know so many languages and many earlier versions of languages that many of us have never heard of but nonetheless contribute to a greater understanding of them all.

Date published: 2019-08-17

Rated 5 out of
5 by
skillian from
Lots of Latin at a steady paceI purchased this course on a whim during a sale and after completing half of it thus far, can say that I'm very happy I did so. I've been a language nerd for years now, but Latin has always seemed too extreme for anyone to actually learn unless they dedicate to it for decades. Luckily, the professor has already done that and can explain it to you gradually so you don't just forget it the next day. For example, after teaching myself a bit of Russian, I thought Latin would be an attainable goal to teach myself. As soon as I look at a single verb's conjugation table on Wiktionary, I thought otherwise. Professor Mueller, or Molinarius, as we address him throughout the course, explains the conjugations in a way that highlights both their patterns and their exceptions so that those massive conjugation tables can be reduced to some logical rules that you can actually remember.
In short, I'm very happy with my purchase and will probably get the Greek 101 course after completing this Latin 101 course!

Date published: 2019-08-12

Rated 5 out of
5 by
JoeLNYC from
Informative and EntertainingI have several of The Great Courses series on language. Several by Professor John Mc Whorter. He is always a lively speaker, with a quirk for putting a personal remark which makes the lectures spark, even if they are a diversion. While there is some overlap with his other courses, much of the material is new and interesting. The grouping a languages into families and sub-families is not an exact science. As Mc Whoter says there are lumpers and separators. He gives you his view and the reasons for and against those views. He describes languages from all parts of the world and the families from which they come. The course had a good explanation of how proto-languages, i.e. the language from which a family of languages developed, can be constructed. I would recommend this course to anyone with an interest in languages at any level. If you are an expert in the field, you might find some overlap to other courses, but the new stuff is worth the time.

Date published: 2019-08-07

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Elizabet from
Entertaining and informativeIt was clearly presented. He obviously loves his material and made us feel we had gained deeper insight into Linguistics. We were sad to come to the end of the lectures and we will probably watch it again, maybe next year.

Date published: 2019-07-11

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Marcia0111 from
Fascinating lecture seriesI always enjoy John McWhorter's lectures. In this series, he covers the many language families of the world. We see how great the variety and quirkiness of human languages and gain insight into the spread of humanity across the globe.

Date published: 2019-07-08

Rated 5 out of
5 by
jprkr from
Language Families of the WorldProfessor McWhorter's newest course lives up to his excellent reputation. Language Families is comprehensive, interesting, and up-to-the minute. It addition to covering the well-known and-wide spread languages, the set also describes less well-known languages, many of incredible complexity, all the while giving much about the histories of all these languages in a way which provides a truly world-wide picture of human-kind's amazing journey on the planet